Richie Benaud to retire next year

DMC

Only one more season of Richie, the next Australian summer on Channel 9 will be his last.

One more opportunity to hear "2/22"

Benaud to retire from commentary next year
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/391296.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
Cricinfo staff
February 18, 2009

Richie Benaud has said he will retire from television commentary next year, ending a second career spanning almost 50 years. "I'll be doing Australian cricket next year, 2010, but I don't do any television at all anywhere else now and when I finish next year, I'll be doing other things," he told Macquarie Radio.

Benaud moved into television commentary soon after retiring from international cricket in 1964 and joined the Channel Nine team in 1977. He soon became an icon of sports broadcasting for his crisp style and dry humour - and sharp dress sense. In 2005 English fans mourned the end of 42 years of Benaud's commentary in the country after the free-to-air Channel 4's contract ended with the ECB. The same year Benaud was voted Australia's most popular commentator in a poll conducted by the Wisden Cricketer and Cricinfo.

At the time, he said he wanted to continue writing books, which he had begun doing long before making a career in television.

Washout

Will he be over for the Ashes?

He is one Gem of a commentator in the long list of commentators that channel 9 Aus now have.

Bill Lawry,Ian Healy,Ian chappell and abolve all Richie are the only aussie commentators I like.

also why dont they ever bring in commentators from away teams countries?

Aidric

Fantastic commentator and analyst of the game, he will be missed.

DMC

Washout wrote: »

Will he be over for the Ashes?

He's been a hemispheric commuter for 40+ years, and he owns a house in France. I would expect wild horses could not keep him away from the Ashes, but, sadly, he will not be heard.

Unless TMS get him in for A View from the Boundary! (A rain delay that takes out a whole day!)

Washout wrote: »

Bill Lawry,Ian Healy,Ian chappell and abolve all Richie are the only aussie commentators I like.

I do like old Bill and his pigeons, Ian Healy is the best of the new blood, but...

Washout wrote: »

also why dont they ever bring in commentators from away teams countries?

The 9 comm box is too crowded. Too many voices in latter years, where they have 3 commentators per half hour. And now they've added Shane Warne!
Richie was the old school TV commentator. "If you have nothing to add to the picture, then say nothing!" was a mantra of his. He and Jim Laker were great on BBC tv. Its a shame his colleagues at 9 don't pay any heed to this, because it drowned out Richie and his soft but accurate tones. Michael Slater and Mark Taylor should be taken out for talking over R. Benaud, in a manner that they've just whacked each other on the bare arse with a wet towel in the changing rooms.

Shure Tony Greig covers all bases.. Pom, Saffy and sub-continent expert all in one

Washout

DMC wrote: »

Shure Tony Greig covers all bases.. Pom, Saffy and sub-continent expert all in one

Never was a great Tony Greig fan.

your right about Taylor and Slater though....the do my head in and need to be replaced with Warne and Gilchrist.

HonalD

Washout wrote: »

also why dont they ever bring in commentators from away teams countries?

Putting a Kiwi into the room with these guys would be murder! Gilly would have a field day!